Research

Chemicals that are harmful to kids are put in thousands of children's products. For over a decade, Washington state has required companies that make children's products to report to the state if their products contain any of the 85 chemicals considered a high concern for kids' health. Between September 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019, 182 manufacturers filed 8700 new reports of toxic chemicals in kids’ products sold in Washington state.

This report looks at the extent to which five of the nation's largest grocery store chains are using and selling PFAS-containing food packaging, including containers, wrappers, and other food packages.

Health experts are concerned about children’s exposures to toxic flame retardants because these chemicals are linked to cancer, obesity, and learning issues. Childcare centers that use foam nap mats can have higher levels of cancer-causing flame retardants in their dust. Children are exposed to the chemicals when they breathe or ingest the dust. Toxic-Free Future […]

Toxic-Free Future launched its investigation in March 2017 to assess industry progress in replacing TCE with safer alternatives for use in vapor degreasing. We reached out to 143 facilities that may currently use TCE for vapor degreasing to confirm this use. We then asked about their plans to phase it out or about barriers preventing a phase-out.

It’s common knowledge that watching too much TV isn’t great for your health. But did you know that TVs could be bad for your health in a new and unexpected way? In a new study coauthored with Clean Production Action, we found that TVs continue to contain toxic flame retardants that can escape the TV […]

Executive Summary There is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. Very young children are particularly vulnerable, even at low levels. While lead has been banned from household paint and gasoline for some time, there are numerous sources of exposure, including paint in older housing, water service lines and plumbing, and several continuing […]

Products in our homes are full of toxic flame retardants—typically at high levels. As ingredients in products from couches to building materials, these toxic chemicals are a part of our daily lives. We know also that these compounds don’t stay in products, making the exposure of children and adults a serious concern. To gain more […]

Toxic flame retardants have been turning up in our waterways since at least 1981 when scientists discovered the persistent toxic compounds known as PBDEs polluting a Swedish river. Since then, a whole alphabet soup of flame retardants that cause cancer, hormone disruption, and other toxic effects have been detected in waters and wildlife around the world. […]

This document summarizes the chemicals and products reported from March 5 to September 6 of 2013. Overall there were 4,605 reports of Chemicals of High Concern to Children reported in children’s products such as toys, clothing, baby safety products, and bedding during this time period.

Testing of Walmart jewelry products revealed that Walmart was selling products with extremely high levels of lead, known to be toxic to the developing brain.